Reserve-fuel-feeding device



April l 1924. v

, W. S. CLARK ET AL RESERVEI FUEL EEEDING DEVICE Filed March 24, 1922 E "NSheets-Sheet l April 1 1924. 1,488,867 W. S. CLARK ET AL RESERVE FUEL FEEDINGl DEVICE Filed March 24, 19224 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,AND SGEN istante? rentner eer/inner, NEW JERSEY.

RESER'VEFUEL-FEEDNG DEVICE.

Application fiied Marco 24, 1922. Serial No, 546,279.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that We, Wiiairrn S. CLARK and donn A, Fanti, citizens of the United States, residingl at Camden, county ot Caindcn, and State ott New Jersey, have invented wertain nerf and useful linproveineiits in lesei've-Fuel-Feeding Devices, ot Which the iplloivino; is a specification.

rlhis invention has reference to reserve gasoiine supply devices or valves operative `for use in connection with the gasoline supply tank oi an automobile which when the naw-oline reaches a predetermined low level, will cease to feed gasoline to the engine, but which ivhen manipulated Wili 'leed a reserve supply to the engine so that after the driver has heen warned that the gasoline suiliply in the tank is getting low, he WillY have siiiiicient gasoline to take him to the next supply station tor reiilling ot the tank.

ln addition to the alcove general state-r ment of ohject ot our invention, it is a Yfurther object to improve the construction oit devifrs oi this class and particularly that shown and described in our prior application tiled ."iufrust 253, i921, ytierial No. 494,656, in which there is provided tube for cont ailing the supply or discharge of the gasoline :troni the tank to the carburetor of the engine; the improvements consisting in providing' a structure Which Will ohviate the necessityl ot employing spaced upper and lower holes or ports so that the lower port for the discharge ciE the reserve supply may he eliminated; to provide an improved and simple arrangement in connection with the sediment hulle and valve associated with the outlet` oi the tank tor co-operation Wit sai-d tuhe Wlierehy the discharge ot the re .fe supply can he easily, positively, and e ctively controlled; and further, to provide improved ineans Vtacilitating the application of said tube to the tank so as to olwviate the necessity of inserting t .he saine the 1oottoni or outlet with considerable dit'iculty and to associate with said tuhe, simpie and novel means for lowering the saine or raising and lockinp; it in an elevated position when the reserve supply ot the gasoline is being consumed.

.te still tui-ther object of the invention is to lgenerally improve, simplify and enhance the structure and facilitate the manufacture ot devices oit the character to which the invention relates These objects, other advantageous ends which ivill loe described hereinafter, We attain in the following manner, reference heinev had to the accompanying drawings .in Whichinjure l is al fragmentary sectional elevation taken longitudinally through a gasoline supply tank and illustratingthe application oit' the improved reserve gasoline supply device thereto in elevation; the saine being; illustrated with the major portion of the Lgasoline having; been exhausted and when necessary to draw on the reserve supply,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation in plane at right anp-les to Figure l and taken on the line 2 2 ot Figure l, the parts being in the saine position as in Figure l,

Figure 3 is view similar to Figure 2, out showing' the tuhe raised and in position to discharge or feed the reserve quantity of gasoline to the motor,

Figure 4 is a Jragmentary perspective view showing the manner of applying the tube to the gasoline supply tank, in connection with its, Aguiding and supporting means; the parts being in the position when initially applied,

Figure is a vieiv similar to Figure 4, hut shoivingiV the parts after beingl partially rotated,

Figure ii is detail sectional view slioiving; a lockingl device or latch employed tor raising` the. tnho and holding' the saine in an elevated position, and

Figure 'i' is a perspective view ot the latch.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which t'or purposes ot illustration is shown the preferred enihodiinent ot the invention, and in Whir like reference characters desY pending parts throughout the several views, l0 represents a gasoline sup ply tank such as employed on automobiles and ll sediment hulle, hotli ci which are of Well known construction. The loottoin 12 of the tank is provided with an outlet nipple or collar i3, the here or hole of which is internally threaded as indicated at 14 in which the stein l5 of the sediment hulh 11 is threaded, the collar being suitably tapped to receive the externally threaded reduced stein portion oi" the hulh. rlhe stein 1 5 has a cavity or counter-bore 16 leading dovvn Wardly from its top and communicating with the space Within the hulh 1l, said space hein@- contracted as shown at i7 to a diamd eter less than that of: the cavity7 16, the portion 17 oi. normal diameter resulting `in the formation ol" a shoulder 18 at the bottom of the cavity and facing upwardly. The bulb has means ot connection with a pipe extending to the carburetor for supplying gasoline to the motor, such connection being represented at 19 and preferably detachable from the sediment bulb and valve of which it forms a part and which facilitates the cleaning thereof, in connection with a drain or pet cool: tor the connection ot which facility is provided at the bottom or' the bulb, as indicated at 20.

A valve 21 at the louer end ot' the contracted portion or bore l? ot the sediment bulb and valve, and preferably in the torni of a turn-plug provided `with a controlling handle 22, is provided tor permittingl the feed of the gasoline or cutting oil the saine as desired, ln the normal and ordinary use ot the tanl; and bulb1 the valve 21 is opened and the gasoline 'from the tank passes downwardly through the cavity and then into the space or chan'iber at the interior of the bulb 11 and outwardly through the pipe connection 19 to the carb etor tor furnishing a proper supply to the engine. Any sediment collected in the lower portion ot the bulb can be removed by opening the usual cock positioned a4 the bottoni ot the bulb through the medium oic the connection Q0 heretofore referred to.

In applying our invention to the structure above described and particularly vith a sediment bulb and valve having the corniter-bore or cavity 16 enlarged Withrespect to the normal bore port-ion 1l' as described, the top Wall 23 ot the gasoline supply tank 10 is provided immediately above the outlet opening and nipple 18, preferably in vcrtical alignment therewith, a hole adapted to receive a tube 25 whichV snugly and slidably fits the bore portion 1T at the, stein et the bulb, but which is or". reduced diameter With respect to the cavity 16 so to 'torni au annular channel in the space around the lower end of the tube and between tl e periphery oli the tube and the enlarged Wall of the cavity as clearly shoivn in Figures 2 and 3 ot the drawings. This is true at all times, Whether the tube is engaged in the bore 17 or elevated ,vith its lovver extremity above the shoulder 1S at the upper end ot said bore portion, the tube fitting said contracted bor portion shown in Figure 2, in such' a manner as to normally cut oil' the reserve supply ot' gasoline from Within the tank so that the same will not be discharged from the tanlr 10 when the valve 21 is open, although the bore of the tube will be aligned with the passage of thevalve. It Will be noted that the hole 9A in the top ol the tank is suh'iciently large to allovv the lower portion or flange 26 of a small esterrasees? lewe upwardly through the hole or i top of the tank, aspht ier 28 is mounted uponthes reve, beine' arrende@ turned helically thereon s spacing tle ends ot l" ient distance `.vill be the thickness ot the top i e that by turning the split Washer, it uill pass 'through the hole in the tanl: when applied in the manner shown iu Fig re el. o the drawings and rote-fed as shown in re 5 so as to engage the bottom surface oitl said Wall as clearly shown in T1ieui` s 1j 2 and Since this Washer is or greater diameter than said hole7 it will serve to prevent the loiver enlarged portion or flange ol: the threaded sleeve, formed as a head on one eid thereof, trom passing upward through the hole when a nut 8O is screwed down on the same to enthe outer surface oit the top Wall ot the tank 1G or a packing Washer suitably interposed between the nut and said vall. lt is also to he understood that any other suitable see ng means may be employed tor i the sleeve in position, the essential ture being that the sleeve forms a Guide to snugly receive the tube so that relatively long bearing 'is produce serving to guide or direct the loiver end of the tube into the restricted normal bore port-ion 17 at the stem or the bulb and also to serve by reason ot said tri/tional engagement to adiust or hell the tube in any desired posit'on ot elevation. I

` lieu of providing the tube vvith up- In per and lower spaced holes as usuah and l described .in our pendinr shoivn :au L

pcvc referred to. the den' et the i e reserve level 'u the presen i instan-em the lin v.

i i is omitted the loi-.vir end or tl e tu beine' freely o as ii t d cont i i the tank,

vious consti l ll.

in the tai loA ed the device, alter the major quanti y oi. gasoline has been cousinned and diseharg d through said ports produced by the holes downwardly through the tube, valve 2i and outlet 19 to the carburetor or the operation of the inotor. ln this position the tube is lowered so as to engage the restricted bore portion 17 and order to limit the downward move- Cil ment ot the sleeve and the upward movement or elevation ot the tube, as well as to lociy the tube in an adjusted or elevated position, the following construction is provided.

t a point spaced from the upper end ot the tube near the top wall 23, a stop inember or shoulder 33 is provided, the tube being tlattened as indicated for the purpose oit enlarging the same whereby the sleeve 2l', should it drop on the tube, will engage said enlargement produced by the tlattened or pressed poi ion resulting trom opposite indentations in the tube and thus prevent the sleeve from dropping below a predeten mined'point so that when the tube is being applied and fastened in position at the top wall of the tank through the medium of the hole 2d, sleeve 27, washer 28 and fastening means described., said sleeve may be held firmly in Contact with the inner surface ot said top wall around the hole 24 through the medium ot said washer, as well as permitting the tube to be applied at the top in lieu of necessitating its application in an inconvenient and undesirable manner at the bottom ot the tank.

ln addition to limiting the downward movement ot the threaded sleeve in applying the tube to the tank for service, the enlargement forming the stop membe 33 limits the upward movement ot the tube from the position shown in Figures l and 2 of the drawings to the position shown in Figurel 3 of the drawings by engagement with the sleeve at its bottom flange 26, at which time the lower or outlet end of the tube will be withdrawn from the restricted bore portion l? to a point above the shoulder i8 whereby the reserve supply of gasoline below the level of the ports or holes 32 as shown in Figures l and 2 of the drawings may be discharged through t-he cavity or annular space between the tube and the wall of said cavity directly from the tank and without passing through the tube, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of thc drawings. ln this manner the intervention of the tube in the discharge of the reserve supply of gasoline "from the tank is yunnecessary and this also facilitates the complete discharge ot the tank should it be desired to drain and clean the same since the outlet around the tube is entirely open and wholly below the inner surface ot the bottoni ot the tank.

ln order to raise the tube so as to elevate the lower end thereof from the position shown in Figure 2 and in which position the major quantity ot the gasoline will be fed to the motor when the supply tank is filled, until the level reaches the holes 32, to the position shown in Figure 3 ofthe drawing for feeding the reserve supply to the motor, a suitable locking means is provided at the upper end of the tube and co-operates with the top or' the tank or nut 30 which serves accomplished.

as a securing means tor the sleeve 27. For this purpose a nut or cap 34;, which may be in the form oit a cap nut, is threaded or otherwise mounted at the upper end of the tube so as to close said end and pivotally receive an angular bail or latch F or this purpose, the bail or latch is preferably made of wire andV bent upon itself intermediate-ly ot' its ends so that the extremities 36 thereof are extended in opposite directions sprung into a. transverse opening in the cap. The sides are bent at right angles to the portions 36 and substantially parallel to each other toward the intermediate or bight portion 37. The sides, that is the latch or bail as a whole, has its free end portion bent substantially at right angles as indicated at 38 so that when the latch is swung upwardly, the linger may be inserted beneath the hook termed by the angularly directed bight portion, where it may be. grasped or engaged with any suitableinstrument for exerting upward pull thereon and thereby change the position of the tube from that shown in Figures l and 2 to that shown in Figure 3, after which the latch may be swung downwardly as shown in Figure 3 to 'trictionally engage the tube yat its opposite sides and also the nut 80 so as to lock the tube in a raised position when feeding the reserve supplv ot the gasoline.

ln this manner, when the reserve level has been reached, the motor will stop, thus warning the driver that the supply is getting low, but the reserve supply will permit yfurther travel until such time as the supply in the tank may be replenished. ln addition to the latch serving to hold the tube in an elevated position, the frictional engagement ot the tube with the bore of the sleeve 27 .will ordinarily suliice but the latch will positively insure against dropping ot the tube and once it has been raised and locked for the feeding of the reserve supply of gasoline7 the driver need not be .concerned with such feeding but should especially remain operative for a somewhat indenite period. The application ot the sediment bulb and valve and also the application of the tube in its intertting engagement therewith, may be more readily The lower end of the tube is liangeless, obviating the use of intricate 4, insane? per series of holes or ports for the discharge of the gasoline.

llVhile we have described our invention as taking a par icular form, it will be understood that the various parts of our invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth, but consider that we are at liberty to make such changes and altera.- tions as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. The combination with` a gasoline supply tank having an outlet and a sediment bulb secured in said outlet and provided with a valve for controlling the discharge of the gasoline to the motor and a counterbore in the stem thereof; a tube of less diameter than said counter-bore and snugly fitting the bore portion therebelow, the lower end of the tube being open and said tube having a perforation spaced from its lower end and the remaining portion of its wall imperforate whereby the major quantity of gasoline will be discharged through said perforation and tube when the tube is engaged in the lower bore portion until a reserve level is reached below said opening and to discharge said reserve supply when the lower portion of the tube is moved into said counter-bore; said tube being slidable through the top of the tank and having an indentation serving as a stop to limit its upward movement; and a pivoted latch carried by the upper end of the tube and arranged to hold the same in said raised position; substantially as described.

2. ln combination with a tank in the class described, having an opening in the top, said tank having an outlet and a tube cooperating with said outlet; guiding means for said tube at said opening and including a split washer adapted to accommodate the thickness of the tank wall at the opening and to enter beneath the same upon turning the wash-er; a sleeve snugly mounted on the tube; means to limit the downwardV movement of the sleeve on the tube, said sleeve supporting the washer for contact with the inner surface of said top wall;

and securing means on the sleeve externally of said wall to draw the washer against said inner surface; substantially as described.

3. In combination with a tank in the class described, having an opening in the top,

said tank having an outlet and a tube cooperating with said outlet; guiding means for said tube in said opening and includine' a split washer adapted to accommodate the thickness of the tank wall at the opening to enter beneath the same upon turning the washer; a sleeve snugly mounted on the tube; means to limit the downward movenient of the sleeve on the tube, said sleeve having bottom upon which the rests; the sleeve extending upwardly sleeve and enmi ged with the top ."ace of said wall; a securing nut on the lee-ve to secure said parte to said wall; and .tch pivoted to the upper end of the and adapted to swing into engagement t i the nut to keep the tube in a raised positon; substantially as describe Ll. ln combination with supply tank having an opening therein; a tube frictionally and slidably mounted in said opening; cap on the tube; and a latch pivoted in the cap, s i l latch having an angular portion. forming a hook for raising the tube when the latch is swung upwardly, and adapted when swung downwardly to brace and hold the tube in a raised position; substantially as described.

5. A. device of the character described for use in connection with means including a li .id supply tank and an outlet passage for the liquid from the tank; said device including a conduit tube having a flangeless port-ion movable within the passage, the lower end of the tube being freely open, said portion being imperforate and said tube having ports uniformly spaced from the lower end thereof andsaid ports being always positioned in the tank, said outlet having a retricted bore portion and a cavity enlarged relative thereto to provide an annular channel around the tube; means for inserting and slidably supporting the tube at the top the tank and frictionally engaging the saine to hold the tube in a raised position with `the lower end thereof above the restricted bore portion whereby the outlet is open through said channel directly from the tank; means for limiting the upward movement of the tube; and means for raising 'the tube, said latter means serving to lock the tube in a raised position; substantially as described.

6. A device of the character described for use in connection with means including a liquid supply tank and an outlet passage for the liquid from the tank, said device including a conduit tube having a flangeless portion movable within the passage, the lower end of the tube being freely open; said portion being imperforate and said tube having ports uniformly spaced from the lower end thereof and said ports being always positioned in the tank, said outlet having a rest 1icted Vbore portion and a cavity enlarged relative thereto to provide en annular ellennel ei'ound tlie tube; ineens foi inserting and slidably supporting tbe tube at the top of the tank and frictionully engaging tlie saine to liold the tube in a mised position with the lower end tlieieoit above the restricted bore portion wlueiebj,T the outlet is open thiough seid channel directly 'from the tank, said tube being formed to engage its mounting to limit the raising of the tube und serving also to limit the downward displacement of said mount-ing on the tube, the tube being held in position by tiictional engagement with its mounting; and e lockingbail bivi otally mounted on the upper end of Athe tube and seiving as a hook to raise the tube when the buil is swung upwardly, seid bail being designed to swing downwardly in engagement with the mounting and to straddle the tube so es to bold the tube in a. raised position projecting above the tank; substanti-ally as described.

in testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subsciibing Witnesses.

VVlLBUR S. CLARK. JOHN A. PENN. Vifitnesses ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAs. E. PoTTs. 

